Views from The Rock

We’ve kept up our routine of early morning runs and have really enjoyed the fantastic panoramic views across the Strait of Gibraltar and Algeciras Bay that you get by climbing The Rock. As Nicky says, the views certainly help to keep your mind off the run up what, at times, seems to be endless vertical road/track.

It must have been an absolute nightmare for the garrision of old moving all the guns into position. The legacy from that is that, at around 50m intervals along the roads, there are metal loops sunk into the rock to which block and tackle systems could be attached to help haul the guns up the hill (or to stop them rolling back down again). There are sections we have run (staggered?) along where it would be nice if the tackle gear were still attached to help us on our way!

The ‘Locals’ seemed less than impressed with our running efforts

The other ‘Pillar of Hercules’, Jebel Musa

The weather has been so good that we have easily been able to see the north coast of Africa. The other ‘Pillar of Hercules’, Jebel Musa in Morocco, has stood out very clearly. It has brought back fond memories of our fantastic sail through the strait last July.

From the northern end of The Rock we could see that the anchorage at La Linea that we stayed in last year. It was really busy back in July but now, very early in the season, there is just one yacht at anchor there. Much more exciting though is the view out to the north east where we aim to be sailing on Monday.

It definitely feels like it is time to be moving on!

The anchorage at La Linea and looking North East to next week’s destination

Gibraltar